GE2025: PAP wins Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC in walkover

Singapore has its first electoral walkover since 2011 after the Workers' Party (WP) surprisingly pulled out of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC on Nomination Day (April 23).

The People’s Action Party (PAP) team of Seah Kian Peng, Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Tin Pei Ling and new faces Goh Pei Ming and Diana Pang were elected unopposed as they were the only candidates.

When asked if the lack of contest from opposition parties came as a surprise, Seah said: "I would say yes, because it's been some time since this place ever had a walkover.

"But walkover or not, our heart and our mission and our goals remain unchanged, which is to do our best to serve and make lives better for our residents."

Tin added: "Precisely because it's a walkover, we are now doubly committed, because we know that this is not something to be taken for granted.

"So all the more we have to work hard to earn the trust and support of our residents in the next five years. So this is our commitment to all our residents in the GRC."

51-year old Pang, who is a long-time PAP volunteer in East Coast, told the media: "Be it an election or no election, my heart for the people will always stand... I will still fight for my people, I will still work for them, regardless of who they are, as long as they are my constituents."

Goh said that while he is a new addition to the team, he is well-acquainted with the area.

He was a Marine Parade resident up until the recent change in electoral boundaries, he said.

 "I grew up in East Coast, I served there for the last 17 years as a grassroots leader, and therefore I do know the east area very, very well."

He said his priority is getting to know residents, adding that he is committed to "hit the ground running" and make a difference for residents using his public service and community experience.

Under the new electoral boundaries announced by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee last month, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC absorbed the whole of MacPherson SMC, some districts from Potong Pasir SMC and an adjacent polling district from Mountbatten SMC.

The Chai Chee HDB estates and the Siglap private estates of Joo Chiat have been absorbed into East Coast GRC.

During the 2020 General Election, PAP won Marine Parade GRC with 57.76 per cent of the votes over WP's 42.24 per cent.

Apart from WP's surprise, PAP's slate also saw the last-minute replacement of its anchor minister Tan See Leng by Goh, a former army general and potential office holder.

Dr Tan himself took the place of Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong in Chua Chu Kang GRC, which saw DPM Gan moving to the new Punggol GRC.

Marine Parade-Braddell Heights has 131,493 voters in the upcoming election.

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bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com

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